The UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine shares highlights from 2025-2026 for their clinical divisions.
Cardiothoracic Anesthesia
The Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia continued a year of steady growth and achievement across its clinical, educational, and academic missions. A major highlight was the successful recruitment of three new faculty members, Ben Fortson, M.D., Olesia Merinova, M.D., Ph.D., and Fil Polenakovic, M.D., all of whom completed cardiothoracic anesthesia fellowship training at UAB and now join the Division as faculty members. Their addition strengthens the Division’s expertise while reinforcing its commitment to developing and retaining exceptional talent.
The Division also celebrated the accomplishments of its fellowship program, with every fellow presenting scholarly work at the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting in Nashville. These presentations highlighted the complexity and innovation of the clinical cases managed at UAB and showcased the Division’s ongoing commitment to academic excellence and knowledge sharing. Faculty and trainees continue to advance the field through research, education, and clinical innovation.
Clinically, the Division supported continued growth in cardiac surgical volume while maintaining the highest star rating in Society of Thoracic Surgeons performance metrics, reflecting sustained excellence in patient outcomes and quality of care. At the same time, multiple faculty members participated in UAB’s Lead Infinitely Program, alongside colleagues from the cardiovascular operating room team, demonstrating a shared commitment to leadership development, team collaboration, and continuous improvement in patient care.
The Division also recognized several faculty members for their leadership contributions. Jacob Mayfield, M.D., was named associate fellowship director for Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesia, joining Brad Meers, M.D., FASE, FASA, in leading fellowship education. Matt Hull, M.D., advanced several important quality initiatives as medical director of the Cardiothoracic Operating Rooms, while Kristen Ewing assumed the role of director of resident education within the Division, further strengthening training opportunities for residents.
“It has been another year of steady progress for our division,” said Benjamin Tuck, M.D., director of the Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia. “We continue to grow clinically, strengthen our educational programs, and invest in the people who make our work possible. I am grateful for the commitment of our faculty, fellows, residents, and CVOR colleagues, and proud of what we have accomplished together. Our continued progress is a reflection of the hard work and shared commitment of this entire team.”
Congenital Cardiac Anesthesiology
The Division of Congenital Cardiac Anesthesiology celebrated a year of growth in academic achievement, research, and education. Patrick Hussey, M.D., earned promotion to associate professor and completed his Master of Science in Health Administration degree. Hussey also continued to advance the division's scholarly mission through publication of a study examining anesthetic implications and physiologic responses to transcatheter pulmonary flow restrictor placement in neonates and by presenting this work during Grand Rounds at Emory University.
The division also expanded its commitment to mentorship and research training by hosting two Medical Student Summer Research Program students. Under Hussey's mentorship, Holly Yazdi explored the impact of tactical restructuring on educational outcomes within an academic pain medicine service, while Campbell Farr investigated hemolysis and mitochondrial injury pathways contributing to pulmonary complications in patients with congenital heart disease.
Further strengthening the division's research portfolio, Hussey received a $50,000 intramural grant through the department’s Reinvent Program. The project examines whether cardiopulmonary bypass-induced hemolysis contributes to mitochondrial injury and postoperative cardiopulmonary complications in children with congenital heart disease. Early findings have demonstrated a post-bypass increase in heme levels, providing important insight into mechanisms that may influence patient outcomes.
The division also maintained a strong national presence through the contributions of Matt Townsley, M.D., who continues to serve as associate editor-in-chief of the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia.
"The Division of Congenital Cardiac Anesthesiology cares for some of our smallest and most complex patients and their families," said Jack Crawford, M.D., Ph.D., vice chair of the division. "Along with our great team of CRNAs, we serve the anesthesia needs of these patients as part of an amazing team within the Pediatric Heart Center and Children's of Alabama. This team culture produces clinical outcomes matching the best programs in the nation and ensures the highest standard of care for the children of Alabama."
Community Anesthesia
The Division of Community Anesthesia experienced a year of significant transformation and growth as it strengthened its partnership with UAB and adapted to an evolving clinical environment. One of the division’s most notable accomplishments was the successful integration of a substantial number of UAB surgical services into the St. Vincent’s Birmingham and St. Vincent’s East campuses. As UAB-related cases grew to represent nearly one-third of the division’s surgical volume, anesthesiologists worked closely with new surgical teams to ensure seamless perioperative care, build collaborative relationships, and maintain the high standards of patient care that define the division.
The division also played an important role in navigating the complexities of a major EPIC electronic health record transition. While implementing a new system presented challenges, the process demonstrated the resilience, adaptability, and teamwork of the division’s faculty. Special recognition was given to Sean Tilford, D.O., and Taylor Blalack, D.O., whose leadership and expertise were instrumental in helping colleagues successfully navigate the transition and maintain continuity of care throughout the implementation process.
The year also provided an opportunity to celebrate the remarkable contributions of Jack Carter, M.D., whose term as Chief of Surgery concluded after a distinguished career in medical staff leadership. Over the past 25 years, Carter has served in numerous influential roles, including Chief of Anesthesiology, Chief of Staff, and Chief of Surgery. His leadership has had a lasting impact on both the department and the broader St. Vincent’s medical community.
Reflecting on the year, Division Director Scott Harper, M.D., emphasized the commitment of the division’s faculty and staff: “This year challenged us in new ways, but it also showcased the strength of our team. From welcoming new surgical partners to navigating a major system transition, our physicians demonstrated tremendous flexibility, professionalism, and dedication to patient care. I’m incredibly proud of what we accomplished together and excited about the opportunities ahead as our partnership with UAB continues to grow."
Critical Care Medicine
The Division of Critical Care Medicine built on last year's momentum with a year defined by clinical excellence, educational leadership, expanding research support, and outstanding collegiality. Faculty and advanced practice providers (APP) continued to deliver exceptional care across all of the division's units, including the Surgical ICU, Cardiovascular ICU, Cardiopulmonary Critical Care Unit, and Neurosciences ICU, serving some of the most complex and critically ill patients at UAB. Planning for the Neurosciences ICU redesign also continued in collaboration with the Department of Neurology.
The division's advanced practice providers delivered another successful year of clinical performance and recruitment, strengthening the interdisciplinary teams central to the division's mission. The division is grateful for the leadership of APP Manager Mandy Flaherty, DNP, CRNP, whose guidance continues to support the growth and excellence of the APP group.
Education remained a hallmark of the division. Blake Norman, M.D., CMQ, continued as residency program director, with Emily Wasson, M.D., MPH, serving as associate program director and Robin Bush, M.D., as assistant program director. As the department's education leader, Norman guided a historically successful recruitment season while also serving as Department Value Officer and Director of Quality and Patient Safety. Wasson implemented the new anesthesia core curriculum, played a leading role in recruitment, and supported residents through mentorship, remediation, and individualized academic strategies. Bush led a substantial redesign of the resident airway curriculum and difficult airway workshop while expanding her national educational involvement, including a pathway toward serving as an applied board examiner and an upcoming Society for Neuroscience in Anesthesiology and Critical Care presentation and panel.
Fellowship leadership also transitioned this year. David Miller, M.D., was named program director of the Critical Care Medicine Fellowship, succeeding Andrew Barker, M.D., whose years of leadership shaped the program, with Dan Gouger, M.D., appointed associate program director. Gouger further extended the division's educational reach by teaching and revising a death by neurologic criteria simulation workshop at the Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting, building on an annual Johns Hopkins workshop and developing relationships with multidisciplinary educators at other institutions.
Research activity and national recognition reached new heights. Brant Wagener, M.D., Ph.D., received a new NIH R01 award, helping elevate the department into the top 10 of the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research rankings. He also received a Distinguished M.D./Ph.D. career award from his alma mater and was selected as UAB's nominee for a major NIH award. Weifeng Song, M.D., Ph.D., translated findings from his departmental REINVENT-funded research into a two-year, $333,179 grant from Edwards Lifesciences. As principal investigator, Song is studying continuous assessment of cerebral autoregulation in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage using cerebral oximetry and hemoglobin volume reactivity indices, building on evidence that standard blood pressure recommendations may not be appropriate for every patient and seeking to guide more individualized cerebral perfusion management. Barker continued as co-investigator and site director for the CLARITY study and as an investigator with the Pragmatic Critical Care Research Group. His PI-led guanfacine trial was accepted for publication in Critical Care Medicine, and he was selected as an associate member of the Association of University Anesthesiologists.
Several faculty members received departmental awards reflecting the division's excellence and supportive culture. Miller received the Anchor Award, recognizing his steadfast support of colleagues, learners, the division, and the department, and the stability, sound judgment, and quiet strength he brings to the workplace. He also earned a graduate certificate in healthcare quality and safety and was named the Mali E. Mathru
Endowed Faculty Scholar. Gouger received the Junior Faculty Trailblazer Award, honoring his exceptional innovation, leadership, and potential for transformative impact in academic medicine. Riaz Karukappadath, M.D., received the Spark Award for being a consistently thoughtful, helpful, encouraging, and positive presence who brings out the best in those around him.
"This year asked a great deal of our faculty and APPs, and they responded with resilience, generosity, and excellence," Miller says. "From redesigning how we train the next generation to advancing innovative research and supporting colleagues at the bedside, this division continues to raise the bar. I am grateful for their partnership and excited about what lies ahead as we continue the NICU redesign and other initiatives."
Multispecialty Anesthesia
The Division of Multispecialty Anesthesia (MSA), which includes approximately 85 faculty members representing 60 full-time, had an exceptional recruitment year, adding eight new full-time faculty members, including six UAB-trained anesthesiologists who chose to remain at or return to UAB following residency and fellowship training. This successful recruitment effort followed a redesigned faculty recruitment strategy led by Brittney Clark, M.D., director of faculty recruitment, which has also supported hiring across other divisions within the department.
Despite staffing challenges, MSA maintained clinical coverage across more than 110 anesthetizing locations. Through creative scheduling solutions, flexibility, and teamwork, Grace Rafield, M.D., Michelle Granger, and the MSA scheduling team helped sustain the division's extensive clinical mission during a particularly demanding year.
MSA also continued to support the growth and increasing complexity of UAB's clinical programs. The transplant anesthesia team played a key role in several major milestones, including the launch of Hepzato treatments, the start of National Kidney Registry transplants, and UAB's first living-donor liver transplant pair. Meanwhile, under the leadership of Ryan Densmore, M.D., the Non-Operating Room Anesthesia (NORA) team provided more than 21,000 anesthetics during the year, accounting for more than 40% of main campus anesthesia case volume. The team also launched anesthesia services for UAB's new brachytherapy program, further expanding access to specialized care.
"This year was about momentum. Our faculty continued to show up for one another and for our patients while taking on increasingly complex work and making UAB's continued clinical growth possible,” Justin Routman, M.D., vice chair of multispecialty anesthesia, said. “Whether keeping more than 110 anesthetizing locations running every day, supporting the growth of our transplant programs, or continuing to expand NORA, our success comes down to our people. They take ownership, they solve problems, and they continually find ways to improve how we care for our patients and support UAB’s clinical mission."
Obstetric Anesthesiology
The Division of Obstetric Anesthesiology advanced several key clinical quality and patient safety initiatives during the last year. The division achieved at least 75 percent compliance with the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocol for cesarean birth and reached 100 percent staffing coverage for postoperative monitoring following intrathecal Duramorph administration. Efforts to improve perioperative efficiency also resulted in reduced Post Anesthesia Care Unit length of stay through modified anesthesia sign-out criteria.
The division continued to meet quality benchmarks established by the Society of Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP) for center of excellence designation. These achievements included appropriate epidural replacement rates, reduced use of general anesthesia for cesarean birth, and low rates of unintentional dural puncture. The team also ensured the consistent availability of blood products in the labor and delivery operating room to support rapid response to obstetric hemorrhage and other emergencies.
Faculty remained active in scholarship and research, presenting 10 faculty-mentored abstracts at the 2026 SOAP Annual Meeting. The division expanded its investigator-initiated research portfolio with a new study evaluating suzetrigine for post-cesarean analgesia and opioid-sparing outcomes, while continuing research on failed induction of labor in patients with obesity and strengthening multidisciplinary and multicenter collaborations. The division also celebrated the scholarly contributions of Teshi Kaushik, M.D., including an obesity-related publication and three grand rounds presentations. In addition, multiple division faculty members were recognized with awards during the 2026 resident graduation ceremony, including Annalese Neuenschwander, M.D., who was named the 2025 Residency Teacher of the Year, and Andrew Hackney, M.D., who was recognized as one of the department's top five residency teachers. The division also recognized Pamela Varner, M.D., on her retirement from the department.
"The Division remains committed to providing safe, excellent and family-centered care through teamwork among patients, families, nurses, obstetricians, anesthesiologists and neonatologists," Yasser Sakawi, M.D., vice chair of the division said.
Pain Medicine
Over the past year, the Division of Pain Medicine has made efforts to expand pain psychology at UAB. In January 2026, Hailey Bulls, Ph.D., joined the Division as a clinical pain psychologist. Bulls is an accomplished clinician-scientist with more than 100 publications. Her research focuses on the intersection of pain, psychology, and behavioral medicine, with interests in cancer-related pain and neuropathy.Bulls’ arrival strengthens the Division’s multidisciplinary approach to pain management and expands its expertise in behavioral and psychological strategies for patients living with complex and chronic pain.
In addition, UAB faculty played prominent leadership roles in the 40th Annual Southern Pain Society Pain Management Conference, held in New Orleans in February. James Weisberg, Ph.D., currently serves as President of the Southern Pain Society, while Division faculty member Alethia Sellers, M.D., serves on the Society’s Board. Together, they helped host a successful 40th-anniversary meeting that brought together pain specialists from across the region and the country.
The conference also served as a reunion of sorts for the UAB Pain community, with numerous UAB alumni attending alongside regional and national faculty. The strong UAB presence reflects the Division’s longstanding commitment to multidisciplinary pain education and leadership throughout the Southeast.
In other Division highlights, Christopher Paul, M.D., was appointed Medical Director of Webinar Education and Creation for the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN). In this national leadership role, Paul has been leading ASPN’s webinar programming, including the Young Innovators Webinar Series, designed to engage early- career pain physicians, trainees, and fellows. Programming has addressed emerging and evolving areas of interventional pain medicine, including spinal cord stimulation, vertebrogenic pain, and restorative multifidus stimulation. Paul’s appointment further expands the UAB Division of Pain Medicine’s contributions to national education and the development of the next generation of pain medicine physicians.
“These accomplishments reflect a year of continued growth for the UAB Pain Division and highlight the breadth of its contributions—from multidisciplinary clinical care and research to regional and national leadership in pain medicine,” said Peter Nagi, M.D., vice chair and director of the Division of Pain Medicine.
Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine
The Division of Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine had a year defined by sustained high clinical volume, expanding reach across the health system, and the addition of talented physicians who strengthen the division's mission in clinical care, education, and scholarship. Faculty performed more than 6,000 acute pain procedures at UAB Hospital and UAB Hospital-Highlands while continuing to support 18 Enhanced Recovery Pathway protocols across multiple surgical services.
The division continues to expand its role in the intensive care unit, bringing regional anesthesia and procedure-based, opioid-sparing pain management to critically ill and injured patients beyond the traditional perioperative setting. In parallel, the team maintains an ongoing multidisciplinary partnership with Orthopedic Trauma and Emergency Medicine focused on patients presenting with fragility fractures, with the goals of earlier pain control, more coordinated care, and consistent clinical pathways for this vulnerable population.
None of this work would be possible without the faculty who form the backbone of the division's clinical service. John Ahn, M.D.; Chris Godlewski, M.D., MSHA; and Jason Gerlak, M.D., anchor the acute pain service day in and day out, combining expert procedural skill with a genuine dedication to teaching at the bedside. Asaf Gans, M.D., continued to lead the division's point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) efforts, advancing curriculum development, clinical implementation, and resident and fellow competence in ultrasound beyond regional anesthesia. He also provided leadership for the Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship, supporting fellows' growth in regional techniques, acute pain management, and perioperative ultrasound.
The division proudly welcomed Zasmine Hymes-Green, M.D., back to UAB as a full-time faculty member following completion of her fellowship in Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Hymes-Green earned her medical degree and completed her anesthesiology residency at UAB before pursuing subspecialty training, and throughout her training, she demonstrated a strong commitment to education, mentorship, and scholarly activity, including contributions to regional anesthesia research and active involvement in the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine. The division also celebrated Tim Maxwell, M.D., who completed his anesthesiology residency and elected to remain at UAB as a fellow in Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine, a decision that reflects the strength of UAB's educational environment and the division's collaborative culture.
"We are thrilled to have Dr. Hymes-Green back and look forward to her energy, expertise, and continued contributions to our department," said vice chair and division director Joel Feinstein, M.D. "We are also excited to see Dr. Maxwell advance to the next stage of his journey and continue growing as a clinician, educator, and colleague. Combined with our continued dedication to perioperative care and our expanding work in the ICU, this year's progress reflects a division that continues to grow in both scope and impact.”